Arlen and Ul stood before a massive fissure in the frozen plains.
"Is it here?" Ul asked, gazing at the abyss ahead.
"…Yes. Be careful," Arlen replied quietly, feeling the pulse of Alaya-vijñāna guiding him.
They approached cautiously. As they reached the edge and looked down—
Their pupils shrank.
Then, almost in unison—
"We found it." ×2
At the center of the chasm lay a monstrous creature the size of a hill—dark brown skin, grotesque horns, and a body of dense, hardened muscle.
Deliora… was sleeping.
"…That's Deliora? It's uglier than I imagined," Arlen muttered.
Ul exhaled slowly. "What's the plan? We go all in?"
There was tension—but more than that, excitement.
The thrill of challenging a legendary demon.
"You support and restrain it. I'll handle the offense. If things go bad—we retreat," Arlen said seriously.
"…Got it."
"Then—begin."
—
Arlen surged with magic. His blade transformed—diamond-like brilliance gleaming.
"Kongō Sōha!"
A storm of razor-sharp diamond spears rained down upon the sleeping demon.
"ROOOAAARR!!"
Deliora awoke in agony, roaring as it locked onto them, gathering dark energy in its mouth—
"Not happening! Ice Make: Rose Garden!"
Ul struck the ground.
A field of icy blue roses erupted beneath Deliora, slamming into its jaw and knocking its attack skyward.
"Wind Scar!"
Arlen spun, unleashing three golden slashes that tore across Deliora's body, shredding ice and snow alike.
Ul's eyes widened.
So strong…
Deliora crashed to the ground, its body riddled with wounds—green blood spilling out.
But then—
It roared again.
And began to rise.
"Ice Make: Thorn Rose!"
Ul bound it in a prison of icy vines and roses.
"Arlen! It's regenerating—we need to finish this NOW!"
Arlen narrowed his eyes.
Indeed—the wounds were already closing.
"…Then no more holding back."
His magic exploded outward.
The air trembled. Ice fragments levitated.
Lightning surged along his blade.
Behind him, a massive azure thunder dragon roared into existence.
"Ul—fall back."
She instantly retreated.
"Azure Dragon Break."
The dragon descended as twin pillars of lightning, devouring everything in their path.
Even Deliora—
felt fear.
For the first time.
It broke free, unleashing a desperate beam of dark energy to resist—
The two forces clashed.
And held.
"…Damn it," Arlen muttered.
He had underestimated it.
Ul's expression hardened.
We need to break this stalemate.
She took out a magic-enhancing herb Arlen had given her—and swallowed it.
Her magic surged.
She charged forward.
"Ul! What are you doing?!" Arlen shouted.
"Focus on your attack—I'll break its defense!"
"Damn it…!"
"Ice Make: Snow God Spears!"
Massive ice lances formed—then shot straight into Deliora's eyes.
A direct hit.
The demon howled in agony—
Its beam shattered.
"NOW, ARLEN!"
"…!"
He consumed his own magic herb.
Every ounce of magic—
poured into the attack.
The twin lightning pillars merged into one—
And swallowed Deliora whole.
Its body disintegrated under the violent storm of destruction.
Its regeneration—
meant nothing.
Its power—
crushed.
The immortal demon—
was erased.
The thunder dragon roared one final time before fading into the sky.
—
"…Haah… that… took everything," Arlen panted, sheathing his blade.
Not a drop of magic remained.
But he smiled.
Satisfied.
"…What terrifying power," Ul murmured, staring at the devastated landscape.
The entire chasm—
had become a scorched basin.
"…Thanks," Arlen said weakly.
Ul stepped forward, supporting him. "You okay?"
"I'm fine… just drained. And… sorry."
"…For what?"
"My arrogance almost got you killed."
Ul smacked his shoulder lightly.
"I told you—I'd protect you, even with my life. Besides… you were the main force. Without your attack, we couldn't have won."
"…Still."
"You're young. You just lacked experience."
Arlen let out a breath.
"…Let's go back."
He gently pushed her hand away and began walking.
Silver hair swaying. Cloak fluttering.
Expression calm—
as if he hadn't just slain a legendary demon.
Ul watched him, then laughed softly.
"…Yeah. Let's go home."
Snow began to fall once more.
—
Far away, in a deep forest—
A man opened his eyes.
Black-haired. Cloaked.
Ancient.
"…Deliora… has been destroyed."
A faint murmur.
Then—
He closed his eyes once more.
As if he had never awakened.